American Serpentine Leafminer Research Articles

Bacterial community and genome analysis of cytoplasmic incompatibility-inducing Wolbachia in American serpentine leafminer, Liriomyza trifolii.

Liriomyza trifolii, an agricultural pest, is occasionally infected by Wolbachia. A Wolbachia strain present in Liriomyza trifolii is associated with cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) effects, leading to the death of embryos resulting from incompatible crosses between antibiotic-treated or naturally Wolbachia-free strain females and Wolbachia-infected males. In this study, high-throughput sequencing of hypervariable rRNA genes was employed to characterize the bacterial community in Wolbachia-infected L. trifolii without antibiotic treatment. The analysis revealed that Wolbachia dominates the bacterial community in L. trifolii, with minor presence of Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, and Limnobacter. To elucidate the genetic basis of the CI phenotype, metagenomic sequencing was also conducted to assemble the genome of the Wolbachia strain. The draft-genome of the Wolbachia strain wLtri was 1.35 Mbp with 34% GC content and contained 1,487 predicted genes. Notably, within the wLtri genome, there are three distinct types of cytoplasmic incompatibility factor (cif) genes: Type I, Type III, and Type V cifA;B. These genes are likely responsible for inducing the strong cytoplasmic incompatibility observed in L. trifolii.

Screening of Hybrid Varieties of Tomato Crop against American Serpentine Leaf Miner, (Liriomyza trifolii, Burgess) in Lucknow District of Uttar Pradesh, India

Tomato is a major cash crop of farmers of central plain of Uttar Pradesh. Injudicious use of chemicals invited too many number of insect pests. Among them sucking insect problems were very serious in comparison to biting and chewing insects because these insects developed resistance and insecticides. So, in last five years pest scenario had changed. Some new insects were seen on crops. In which, American serpentine leaf minor in one of them. Their incidence increasing very rapidly in different crops like tomato, vegetable pea and cucurbitaceous crops etc. Tomato crop was more susceptible for leaf miner. Due to which screening of popular tomato varieties were urgently needed. On that basis this study were carried out on ten popular hybrid varieties. The field incidence of the serpentine leaf miner, L. trifolii (Burgess) was severe during the fruiting stage of the crop. Infestation was higher on lower surface of leaf in comparisons of upper surface. On the basis of cumulative susceptibility index test varieties all varieties viz. Pusa Rohini, Pusa Uphar, Arka Saurabh, Naveen-2000, N-815, Arka Vardan, Pusa Sadabahar, Arka Vishal, N-2535 and ArkaVardan were found to be resistant/less susceptible. There were no significant correlation found among leaf miner incidence and yield of crop. All tested hybrid varieties performed better in Lucknow district of Uttar Pradesh.

Leafminer attack accelerates the development of soil-dwelling conspecific pupae via plant-mediated changes in belowground volatiles.

Summary Herbivore population dynamics are strongly influenced by the interactions established through their shared host. Such plant‐mediated interactions can occur between different herbivore species and different life developmental stages of the same herbivore. However, whether these interactions occur between leaf‐feeding herbivores and their soil‐dwelling pupae is unknown.We studied whether tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) leaf herbivory by the American serpentine leafminer Liriomyza trifolii affects the performance of conspecific pupae exposed to the soil headspace of the plant. To gain mechanistic insights, we performed insect bioassays with the jasmonate‐deficient tomato mutant def‐1 and its wild‐type, along with phytohormones, gene expression and root volatiles analyses.Belowground volatiles accelerated leafminer metamorphosis when wild‐type plants were attacked aboveground by conspecifics. The opposite pattern was observed for def‐1 plants, in which aboveground herbivory slowed metamorphosis. Leafminer attack induced jasmonate and abscisic acid accumulation and modulated volatile production in tomato roots in a def‐1‐dependent manner.Our results demonstrate that aboveground herbivory triggers changes in root defence signalling and expression, which can directly or indirectly via changes in soil or microbial volatiles, alter pupal development time. This finding expands the repertoire of plant–herbivore interactions to herbivory‐induced modulation of metamorphosis, with potential consequences for plant and herbivore community dynamics.

Effect of Quorum Sensing Inducers and Inhibitors on Cytoplasmic Incompatibility Induced by Wolbachia (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae) in American Serpentine Leafminer (Diptera: Agromyzidae): Potential Tool for the Incompatible Insect Technique.

Agricultural crops around the world are attacked by approximately 3,000–10,000 species of pest insect. There is increasing interest in resolving this problem using environmentally friendly approaches. Wolbachia (Hertig), an insect endosymbiont, can modulate host reproduction and offspring sex through cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI). The incompatible insect technique (IIT) based on CI-Wolbachia is a promising biological control method. Previous studies have reported an association between CI and Wolbachia density, which may involve a quorum sensing (QS) mechanism. In this study, we investigated the effect of manipulating QS in Wolbachia using several chemicals including 3O-C12-HSL; C2HSL; spermidine (QS inducers), 4-phenylbutanoyl; and 4-NPO (QS inhibitors) on American serpentine leafminer (Liriomyza trifolii [Burgess]), an agricultural pest. The results showed that inducing QS with 3O-C12-HSL decreased the proportion of hatched eggs and increased Wolbachia density, whereas QS inhibition with 4-phenylbutanoyl had the opposite effects. Thus, manipulating QS in Wolbachia can alter cell density and the proportion of hatched eggs in the host L. trifolii, thereby reducing the number of insect progeny. These findings provide evidence supporting the potential efficacy of the IIT based on CI-Wolbachia for the environmentally friendly control of insect pest populations.

Seasonal Abundance and Spatial Pattern of Distribution of Liriomyza trifolii (Diptera: Agromyzidae) and Its Parasitoid on Bean and Squash in South Florida

American serpentine leafminer, Liriomyza trifolii, is a polyphagous insect pest that feeds on a wide range of vegetable and ornamental plants around the world. To develop an effective IPM program, information on the seasonal field distribution and population dynamics of leafminer and its parasitoids is very important. Therefore, seasonal abundances and spatial distributions of, L. trifolii on snap bean and squash were studied during four crop growing periods between 2013 to 2015 in Homestead, Florida. The mean numbers of mines, larvae, pupae, emerged adults, and parasitoids on snap bean were highest at 2 weeks after planting during all four growing periods. Whereas, the mean numbers of mines, larvae, pupae, emerged adults, and parasitoids on squash were highest at 3 weeks after planting during all four growing periods. L. trifolii distributions tended to be aggregated on snap bean at 2 weeks after planting during most of growing periods but had uniform distributions on squash at 2 weeks after planting during most of growing periods. Similar results were seen on the distribution of leafminer parasitoids on both bean and squash.

Changes in the insecticide susceptibility of the American serpentine leafminer, Liriomyza trifolii (Diptera: Agromyzidae), in indoor successively reared and crop field populations over 25 years

Changes in the insecticide susceptibility of the American serpentine leafminer, Liriomyza trifolii (Diptera: Agromyzidae), in indoor successively reared and crop field populations over 25 years

Silica nanoparticles as pesticide against insects of different feeding types and their non-target attraction of predators

The agricultural use of silica (SiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) has the potential to control insect pests while the safety and tritrophic effects on plants and beneficial natural enemies remains unknown. Here, we evaluate the effects of silica NPs on insect pests with different feeding niches, natural enemies, and a plant. Silica NPs were applied at different concentrations (75–425 mg/L) on field-cultivated faba bean and soybean for two growing seasons. The faba bean pests, the cowpea aphid Aphis craccivora and the American serpentine leafminer Liriomyza trifolii, and the soybean pest, the cotton leafworm Spodoptera littoralis, were monitored along with their associated predators. Additional laboratory experiments were performed to test the effects of silica NPs on the growth of faba bean seedlings and to determine whether the rove beetle Paederus fuscipes is attracted to cotton leafworm-infested soybean treated with silica NPs. In the field experiments, silica NPs reduced the populations of all three insect pests and their associated predators, including rove beetles, as the concentration of silica NPs increased. In soybean fields, however, the total number of predators initially increased after applying the lowest concentration. An olfactometer-based choice test found that rove beetles were more likely to move towards an herbivore-infested plant treated with silica NPs than to a water-treated control, suggesting that silica NPs enhance the attraction of natural enemies via herbivore-induced plant volatiles. In the laboratory, while silica NPs inhibited the development of faba bean roots at 400 mg/L, they did not affect germination percentage, germination time, shoot length, or vigor index compared to the control.

Studies on the Eco-friendly Management of American Serpentine Leafminer and Whitefly in Tomatoes by Planting Attractive Trap Plants in Underdeveloped Countries

Studies on the Eco-friendly Management of American Serpentine Leafminer and Whitefly in Tomatoes by Planting Attractive Trap Plants in Underdeveloped Countries

Population Abundance of the Serpentine Leaf Miner Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) (Diptera: Agromyzidae) on Four Winter Host Plants

Background: The American serpentine leafminer, L. trifolii (Burgess), is one of the most problematic insect pest species attacking large number of vegetable crops, weeds and, ornamentals.
 Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate population abundance and host plant preference of L. trifolii on four winter host plants under Libyan conditions.
 Methods: Four winter host plants were studied [broad bean (Veciafaba), pea (Pisum sativum), fenugreek (trigonella finum gradum) and snow thistle (Sonchus oleraceus)]. The experimental field was about 1600m2 which divided to 12 equal plots (4 plots for each plant). Hundred leaflets infested with L. trifolii were taken from each host plant. Samples were kept in plastic bags and transferred to be examined in the laboratory. Number of living L. trifolii larvae were counted and recorded.
 Results: Four winter host plants were targeted for this study [broad bean (Veciafaba), pea (Pisum sativum), fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) and snow thistle (Sonchus oleraceus)] during the growing season 2018/2019 in Alejelat region. L trifolii showed low populations in December on all studied host plants. then, developed high populations in February and March then the population decreased till the end of the growing season. L trifolii recorded four peaks of abundance on all host plants, except snow thistle (3 peaks) the highest peak recorded 488, 322, 152 and 187 individuals/ 100 infested leaflets on broad bean, pea, fenugreek and snow thistle respectively. L. trifolii showed its highest monthly average numbers in February on Broad bean, Pea and, Fenugreek recording (383.25 ± 81.05, 256.75 ± 55.18 and, 101.5 ± 37.36 individuals / 100 infested leaflets) respectively and, (153.27 ± 27.10 individuals / 100 infested leaflets) for Snow thistle in April. On the other hand, the lowest monthly average numbers occurred in April on the four studied host plants recording (240.71 ± 113.11, 176.48 ± 59.22, 71.28 ± 24.05 and, 106.28 ± 47.73 individuals / 100 infested leaflets).

Seasonal abundance of the serpentine leaf miner Liriomyza trifolii and the bio efficiency of the larval ectoparasitoid Diglyphus isaea on cowpea in Alejelat region, Libya

The American serpentine leaf miner, L. trifolii (Burgess), is one of the most problematic insect pest species attacking a large number of vegetable crops, weeds, and ornamentals. The present study aimed to determine the natural abundance of the larval parasitoid D. isaea and the serpentine leaf miner L. trifolii. This study was carried out in Alejelat region during two summer seasons of 2018 and 2019 on cowpea. The highest monthly total numbers of L. trifolii larvae, D. isaea, host fed, and total killed larvae that occurred on August recording (1187, 535, 209, and 744), respectively. While the monthly average numbers recorded (862.5 ± 289.8, 341.7 ± 139.5, 123.75 ± 57.3, and 465.5 ± 194.8) for the former parameters during season 2018, respectively. On the other hand, the highest monthly total numbers of L. trifolii larvae, D. isaea, host fed, and the total killed larvae occurred on August recording (3211, 1264, 580, and 1844), respectively. While the monthly average numbers recorded (1517.5 ± 1299.6, 632 ± 438.5, 285.5, ± 201.8, and 917.5 ± 640.2) for the former parameters during season 2019, respectively. The percentage of total mortality reached 91.8%, and 87.6 in the first and the second season, respectively.

Evaluation of tetraniliprole 200 sc against american serpentine leaf miner Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) and its impact on natural enemies in Tomato

Two rounds of foliar application of tetraniliprole 200 SC @ 60 and 50 g a.i. ha−1 were found effective in reducing the damage caused by serpentine leaf miner, Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) followed by its dose @ 40 g a.i. ha−1. Tetraniliprole 200 SC at all the test doses reduced slightly the natural enemies viz. coccinellids and spiders immediately after the spraying. The natural enemy population started increasing gradually ten d after spraying. Foliar application of tetraniliprole 200 SC @ 60, 120 and 240 g a.i. ha−1 did not cause any phytotoxic symptoms. At 60 g a.i. ha−1, it recorded maximum tomato yield of 38.08 and 42.20 t ha−1 with tomato hybrid US 3140 (Mahalakshmi) in the first and second season, respectively.

Altering the performance and preference of the American serpentine leafminer Liriomyza trifolii L. by essential oils and titanium nanoparticles

Altering the performance and preference of the American serpentine leafminer Liriomyza trifolii L. by essential oils and titanium nanoparticles

Screening tomato genotypes for resistance to early blight and American serpentine leafminer

In this study, 21 tomato accessions of the ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi, gene bank were screened for resistance to early blight and leafminer. For early blight resistance, artificial screening was conducted for 40-day-old (in 2013–2014) and 70-day-old (in 2012–2013) plants, and field screening was carried out during 2012–2013. Screening for leafminer damage was done only under screen house conditions during 2012–2013. Tomato wild accessions, namely, EC520078, WIR3928, and WIR3957, showed a lower percent disease incidence of early blight at two different growth stages in artificial disease inoculation conditions and in field conditions. The percent disease incidence of the genotypes was 5.98, 7.22, and 16.48% at 40 days old; 14.59, 12.33, and 16.73% at 70 days old under artificial screening, and 8, 8.65, and 15.12% under field conditions, respectively. The same genotypes recorded lower leafminer damage in screen house conditions, and the percentage of leafminer damage was 3.92, 4.55, and 5.91%. These tomato wild accessions are being used as a source of resistance in early blight and leafminer resistance-breeding programs.

A Life Table for Liriomyza trifolii (Diptera: Agromyzidae) in a Temperate Zone of Northeast Egypt With Key Factor Analysis.

The American serpentine leaf miner, Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) (Diptera: Agromyzidae), is a perennial pest of leguminous crops in the Mediterranean region. A life table was constructed for L. trifolii infesting broad bean, Vicia faba L., in northern Egypt. Key factor analysis was used to rank sources of immature mortality over two seasons. Leaf miners had three successive generations, and a partial fourth, in each year, with peak abundance in March-April. Less than 15 and 22% of L. trifolii survived to adult in seasons one and two, respectively. The largest contributor of immature leaf miner mortality in both seasons was unknown (41.2 and 39.1% of total mortality, respectively), and likely comprised a combination of abiotic factors, parasitoid-inflicted mortality (host-feeding), and predation. Parasitism was second, contributing 36.2 and 35.6% of total mortality in the two seasons, respectively, primarily due to larval parasitism by Diglyphus isaea (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), and low levels of larval-pupal parasitism by Opius pallipes Wesmael (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and Halticoptera circulus (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae). Residual mortality resulted from malformed pupae or failed adult emergence. Key factor analysis revealed malformation to be the major cause of pupal mortality. Sequential regression confirmed that unknown mortality and D. isaea were the top stage-specific factors, both acting on larvae. Parasitoid abundance tracked host abundance across generations, but density dependence was not observed for any mortality factor, and the magnitudes of regression slopes were small. The results indicate the potential importance of conservation biological control in management of L. trifolii, given that naturally occurring parasitoids and other biotic/abiotic factors exert significant mortality on immature leaf miners.

Occurrence of polyhouse vegetable pests in Kerala

Purposive survey was conducted in 82 polyhouses comprising 13 agro-ecological zones covering 12 districts of Kerala, during 2014–16 with a view to document the pests and natural enemies associated with salad cucumber, yard long bean, tomato, chilli, amaranthus, bittergourd and cabbage. Twenty eight species of pests were recorded in the study comprising of nineteen insect pests, five plant parasitic nematodes, two each of mite and mammalian pests. The incidence of mammalian pests in polyhouse is reported for the first time. American serpentine leaf miner, Liriomyza trifolii, cowpea aphid, Aphis craccivora, leaf caterpillar, Spodoptera litura, spider mite, Tetranychus truncates and root knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, were the predominant ones. The natural enemies recorded were Aenasius arizonensis, Coccinella transversalis, Scymnus coccivora, Oecophylla smaragdina Carcelia sp, and Argiope aurantia.

Performance of different insecticides against American serpentine leaf miner, Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) in ridge gourd

The present investigation was conducted at KRC College of Horticulture, Arabhavi, Karnataka during kharif season of 2016 and 2017 to evaluate the bio-efficacy of different insecticides (profenophos, buprofezin, spinosad, chlorantraniliprole, thiamethoxam, acephate, malathion) along with aqueous NSKE @ 5% and azadirachtin 1500 ppm against leaf miner, Liriomyza trifoii (Burgess) on ridge gourd. The results of pooled data revealed that spinosad 45 SC @ 0.3 ml/l was most effective in reducing leaf miner followed by chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC @ 0.20 ml/l and thiamethoxam 25 WG @ 0.25 g/l. The highest yield was recorded in spinosad 45 SC @ 0.3 ml/l (103.75 q/ha) which was found to be at par with chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC @ 0.20 ml/l (98.48 q/ha) followed by thiamethoxam 25 WG @ 0.25 g/l (88.71 q/ha).

Management of American serpentine leaf miner through newer combination of insecticides on Tomato crop

Management of American serpentine leaf miner through newer combination of insecticides on Tomato crop

Development of a mechanical sexing system to improve the efficacy of an area-wide sterile insect release programme to control American serpentine leafminer (Diptera: Agromyzidae) in Canadian ornamental greenhouses.

American serpentine leafminer (ASL), Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess), is a significant pest of greenhouse ornamental crops, and females damage leaf tissue with their ovipositor during feeding and oviposition. The sterile insect technique has been advocated as a non-chemical alternative to currently available control methods. In area-wide sterile insect release programmes, males act as true vectors of sterility. Females should be eliminated from a cohort of pupae prior to irradiation to maximise production economics and sterility spread. The aim of this research was to develop a mechanical sexing system based on pupal size to reduce the proportion of ASL females. Cumulative frequency distributions were used to examine significant differences in male and female pupal length and dorsal and lateral width distributions. Optimum size cut-off points based on the largest differences in distribution curves were used to determine the dimensions of three different sieve designs. Sieve pores measuring 1.543 mm by 0.765 mm excluded 76% of female pupae and doubled the proportion of males in the throughput sample. Pupal sexual dimorphisms identified in this research can be used to design a sieve to aid in reducing the proportion of females prior to irradiation, thus improving the efficacy of an area-wide sterile insect release programme. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Responses ofLiriomyza trifolii(Diptera: Agromyzidae) to Chemical and Biorational Insecticides

One of the most troublesome pests of snap beans is the American serpentine leafminer, Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) (Diptera: Agromyzidae). Growers commonly use abamectin, spinosad, and cyromazine to manage L. trifolii populations; however, the biological insecticide azadirachtin and the fungus Isaria fumosorosea Wize offer promising alternatives. We tested the effectiveness of these five insecticides for controlling L. trifolii under field conditions in southern Florida. Abamectin and spinosad were generally the most effective for reducing L. trifolii mines, larvae, and/or pupae. Cyromazine and azadirachtin were less effective than abamectin or spinosad, although better than I. fumosorosea or the untreated control. Isaria fumosorosea was the least promising treatment; however, it still performed better than the control in reducing L. trifolii mines, larvae, and/or pupae. As pesticide effectiveness increased, differences in numbers of mines, larvae, and pupae appeared to be reduced among the 5 dates that pesticides were sprayed. Overall, mines appeared to be more effectively controlled 1 to 2 d after treatment than after 7 d, whereas larvae and pupae were controlled equally throughout the period. The pesticides employed can be classified into 3 general groups based on modes of action: abamectin and spinosad (disrupters of insect neural and muscular systems), cyromazine and azadirachtin (disrupters of molting), and I. fumosorosea (invades the insect, produces a toxin, and halts feeding). Pesticides with at least two modes of action were each able to provide effective control. Alternating pesticides may therefore control L. trifolii while limiting the development of resistance in L. trifolii populations. ResumenUn de los peores plagas de habichuelas es el minador serpentino Americano, Liriomyza trifolii Burgess (Diptera: Agromyzidae). Frecuentemente, los productores utilizan abamectina, spinosad, y ciromazina para el control de L. trifolii. Sin embargo, azadiractina, una insecticida biologica, y el hongo, Isaria fumosorosea (Wize) AHS Br. Y G. Sm., pueden ofrecer alternativas eficaces. Pusimos a la prueba el rendimiento de todas estas insecticidas para el control de L. trifolii en el campo en el sur de Florida. Abamectina y spinosad fueron generalmente los mas eficaces para la reduccion de las minas, larvas, y/o pupas. Ciromazina y azadiractina aparecieron menos eficaz que abamectina o spinosad, pero mas eficaz que I. fumosorosea o el control no tratado. Isaria fumosorosea fue el tratamiento menos eficaz, aunque mas eficaz del control para la reduccion de las minas, larvas, y/o pupas. Como la eficacia de pesticidas aumento, las diferencias en los numeros de las minas, larvas, y pupas disminuyieron entre los 5 aerosoles. En general, las minas aparecieron controlado mas eficaz a 1–2 d despues de la rociada que despues de 7 d, pero las larvas y pupas fueron controlados por igual en todo el periodo. Sobre la base de modos de accion, los plaguicidas se clasificaron en tres grupos generales: abamectina y spinosad (disruptores de sistemas neurales y musculares en insectos), ciromazina y azadiractina (interrumpen la muda), y I. fumosorosea (invade el insecto y detiene la alimentacion). Cada de las pesticidas con modos de accion diferentes fue capaz de proporcionar un control eficaz. Alternando el uso de ellos puede controlar L. trifolii mientras illimitando el desarrollo de resistencia causada por el uso continuo de las pesticidas con un modo de accion unico. View this article in BioOne

Studies on the extent of damage caused by Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) (Diptera: Agromyzidae) on six vegetable crops

A survey was conducted to study the incidence and extent of damage caused by American serpentine leaf miner, Liriomyza trifolii on six vegetable crops, using an infestation index and score for the intensity of infestation in a 0- 4 scale based on the infested area on each leaf. Among the six crops surveyed maximum infestation index was observed in ash gourd (55%)followed by cowpea (45%). The older leaves were preferred more than the younger leaves. The infestation (25%) was minimum in pumpkin and bitter gourd.